Method of and apparatus for producing flexible boot flashing



Feb. 16, 1960 w. J. EBERLE 2,925,115

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING Filed June25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mlhl.

. W////0m d fber/e INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1960 w. J. EBERLE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORPRODUCING FLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING Filed June 25, 1956 4 Sheets-SheetATTORA/f KS Feb. 16, 1960 w. J. EBERLE 2,925,116

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING Filed June25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 T 5 5 mm M i i L m, 42

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W////am d. fiber/e INVENT .fluvi Feb. 16, 1960 w. J. EB l ERLE 2,925,116

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING Filed June25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Eber/e INVENTOR.

ATTOR/V'VJ United States Patent METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINGFLEXIBLE BOOT FLASHING William J. Eberle, Houston, Tex.

Application June 25, 1956, Serial No. 593,559

10 Claims. c1. 153-73 This invention relates to a method of andapparatus for producing a flexible boot flashing.

In my co-pending application No. 490,652 filed January 25, 1955 forVariable Pitch Flashing there is disclosed and claimed a variable pitchflashing of malleable material adapted to be fitted over a conduitportion extending from a surface, said flashing including a plate havinga hole therein, a tube secured to the plate in alignment with the holeand a cylindrical bellowed portion in the tube adjacent the platepermitting angular adjustment of the tube with respect to the plate.

It is a general purpose of the present invention to provide a method ofand apparatus for producing such flexible flashing quickly andeconomically.

As the tube of the variable pitch flashing must fit over a conduit it isimportant that the inside diameter of the tubing is not reduced by thebellowing operation and it is therefore a purpose of the presentinvention to provide a method of and apparatus for forming such flexibleflashing in which the internal diameter of the bellowed portion of thetube is the same as the internal diameter of the unbellowed portions ofthe tube.

It is desirable during the bellowing operation to insure that the peaksand valleys of the bellowed portion of the tube are not stretched thinand it is therefore another object of the present invention to provide amethod of and apparatus for forming the bellowed portion in the tubingwithout diminishing the thickness of the tube in the bellowed portion.

It is yet another further and important object of the invention toprovide a rugged apparatus and a method and apparatus which are simpleand dependable in operation.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will appear as the description of the preferred example of theinvention proceeds, which is given for the purposes of disclosure andwhich is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where likecharacter references designate like parts througout the several views,and where,

Figure 1 is a front view, partially diagrammatic and partially insection, of an apparatus for making flexible flashing constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a flexible flashing produced by themethod and apparatus of the present invention,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a flexible flashing produced by theapparatus and method of the present invention with the plate being bentupwardly for shipment,

Fig. 5 is an end view, partially diagrammatic, partially cut away, ofthe left end of the apparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a partially diagrammatic view of the right end of theapparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the bellows forming portionof the apparatus of the present invention,

and l Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the cutting unitholder of the present invention.

"ice Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 the apparatus 10 of the presentinvention includes as a whole the support table 12 having mountedthereon the plate cutting assembly 14, the bellows forming assembly 16,and the tube and plate joining assembly 18. For convenience theaccessory equipment of a tube expander assembly 20 and a plate bendingclamp 22 are also located on the support table 12. l

In the manufacture of the flexible flashing, soft metal plates, usuallylead, are cut to the desired size and then have a hole .cut through themby the plate cutting assembly 14 over which hole the tube is laterfastened. The plate cuttingassembly 14 includes a standard drill press24, modified as heinafter explained, and a plate holding platform 26under the vertical moving parts of drill press 24. The plate holdingplatform 26 is provided with a pair ofparallel guides 28 which areadjustable toward and away from one another by any conventional meanssuch as pins 30 near each end of each guide 28 and a series of holes 32in the platform 26 into which these pins may be inserted so that platesof different size may be positioned between these parallel guides 28.

To control the extent to which the plates-are slid under the descendingportions of the plate cutting assembly 14 there is provided a pluralityof stop pins 3-4 in the plat? form 26 and a second series of holes 36into which the stop pins 34 maybe placed. Thus by placing the stop pins34 in the proper holes 36 the extent to which the plates pass under thedescending portions of the plate cutting assembly 14 is both controlledand limited. Of course, other means for securing the plates in positioncould be utilized. With this plate cutting assembly 14 several platesmay be cut simultaneously as several thicknesses of such plates may beplaced on the platform 26.

As best shown in Figure 5, the drill press 24 includes a supportingshaft 38 located a sufficient distance from the descending portions thatthere is suflicient room for plates of large sizes to be cut. As shownin Figure 8 the drill press 24 is modified from a conventional press inthat a novel cutting unit 40 is placed in the cutting unit holder orchuck 42. This cutting unit 40 includes a shaft 44 adapted to be fittedinto the chuck 42 and a cutter bar holder 46 secured on the shaft 44 inalignment with the chuck 42. Passing centrally and radially through thecutter bar holder 46 is the cutter bar 48 from near one end of whichdepends the cutter blade 50. The cutter bar 48 is horizontallyadjustable such as by the set screw 49 so that the circle circumscribedby the cutter blade 50 is variable in size.

Located on the lower end of the cutter bar holder 46 is a compressionspring 52 secured to the lower end of which is a thrust plate 54 havingan aperture 56 through the center thereof. This thrust plate 54 isrotatably secured to the compression spring 52 by the bearing and raceassembly 58. Secured axially to the lower surface of the cutter barholder 46 is a pointed holding pin 60 which extends downwardly a slightdistance more than the cutter blade 50, so that it contacts andpenetrates the lead plates before the cutter blade 50 does.

In operation, the plates in which the holes are to be out are looselyfitted between the parallel guides 28. This loose fit is desirable forease of insertion of the plates. The electric motor 62 rotating thechuck 42 by means of a power chain such as the pulley and belt drive 64is started. The chuck 42 is then moved downwardly by turning theconventional hand wheel 66 on. drill press 24. As the chuck 42 and thecutting unit 40 descend the thrust plate 54 first contacts the flashingplates and immediately thereafter the pointed holding pin 52 contactsthe top plate and bites into it because of the softness of the metal ofthe flashing plate thereby preventing any lateral movement of theflashing plate. Thus, while there is only a loose fit of'the flashingplate between the parallel guides 28 this pointed holding pin 60prevents any lateral movement of the flashing plates allowing a truecircle to be cutby the following cutter blade 50. As the cutting unit 40continues to descend the pointed holding pin'60 continues to precedeindownward'rnovement the cutter blade 50 thus holding each flashingplate inposition prior to the time the cutter blade 50' reaches it. Anaperture in the platform 26 in line with the sharp pointed pin 60 allowsthe cutting unit 40 todescend sufliciently that thecutter blade 50 maycompletely out the lowermost flashingpl'ate. After cutting through thelowermost flashing plate the hand Wheel 66 is reversed-raising thecut-tin'g unit 40' and upon such upward movement the compression spring52 actingthrough the thrust plate 54 prevents the flashing plates "fromhanging onto the pointed holding pin 60 so the cutting unit 40 iseasilyand completelyfreed from the flashing plates.

After the cutting unit 40 has'been raised the perforated flashing platesmay then he slid from the platform 26 with the plugs cut. by the cutterblade 50 falling from them, The holed flashing plates are then stackedfor further use as will be described later.

As previously stated above the cutter bar 48' passes through the axis ofthe chuck 42 and the cutter bar holder 46. This has been found necessarybecause when the cut ting'unit 40 is rotated at the high speedsdesirable a cutter bar 48 which does not pass through the axis of thechuck 42 causes grabbing and tearing of the flashing plate by the cutterblade 50. While the cutter blade 50 may be adjusted to properly cut alimited range of diameters of holes in;theflashing" plate with a cutterbar 48 which does not pass through the axis of chuck 42, uponart-increase inthe range of diameter of holes cutby horizontal slidingof the cutting bar 48 the damage mentioned above is oftentimes caused tothe flashing plate. Surprising enough, by making the cutter bar 48 passthrough the-axis ofthe chuck- 42 no damage is caused to the flashingplates by the cutter blade 50 in the entire operating range of diameterof holes cut in the flashing plates.

If the tubes available for use in the flexible flashings-are slightlysmaller in diameter than desired they may be enlarged by the tubeexpander 20 best illustrated in Figures 1' and 3-. This tube expander20' includes an expander mandrel 63 driven by an electric motor 65through a power chain and gear system 67 at the desired speed. Near thefree end 68 of expander mandrel 63 this expander mandrel diameter isincreased at-the-bev'el surface 69. The expander mandrel 63 is rotatedat high speed and tubing-of the flexible flashing cut to the properlength is then slid by hand over the. free end 68 of the expandermandrel 63 and as it reaches the beveled portion 69 continued axialpressure on the tubing forces thetubingover the beveled portion 69resulting in an increase iii-diameter ofthe tube. If the tube length isgreater than-the length of'thel increased diameter portion ofthe-expander mandrel the tube is withdrawn, reversed, and the other endof the tube expanded in a similar manner. A supply of different sizeexpander mandrels 63 is kept on hand to meet the various requirements ofdiameter of tubing.

The flexible flashing tubing, having been expanded if necessary, nexthas one end of it bellowed inthe bellows forming assembly 16 bestillustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 7.

A face plate 70 supported'and rotated about a'horizontal axis by a driveshaft 72'connected to-a motor 74 through various gearing 76 isprovidedat the lef t end'of the bellows forming assembly asthe apparatusis viewed in Figure l.

The particular arrangement of power supply, gearing, and

shafts. necessary to-support androtate-the face plate70 is no part ofthe present invention and need not bedescribed in greater. detail.Deta'chably secured to the face plate 70in axial'alignment therewith andfor rotation therewith issthe bellows'forrning mandrel 78. Asvarious-sizes of forming mandrels 78 will beused with the varying insize of diameter of the tubes, each of these mandrels is quickly securedto and released from the face plate 70. This may bedone-by a threadedstud 80 (Figure 1) projecting along the axis of rotation of the faceplate 70 into a complementary threaded recess 82 in the end of mandrel78, best illustrated in the spare mandrels 78 shown in Figure 1 stackedin the support table 12. Also as shown in the illustration of thesespare mandrels, the end of mandrel 78 which will abut the faceplate-70-is slightly concave as at 84 so that'upon threading the mandrel78 onto the stud 80 of face plate 70only the outer portion of that endof mandrel 78 adjacent face plate 70 will come in contact with faceplate 70 thus aiding in obtaining true alignment of the mandrel 78 with:the axis of rotation of the face plate 70. Of course, other means forquick attachment and release of the mandrels 78 to the face plate 70 andmeans of insuring true alignment of the mandrel 78 with the face plate70 may be utilized.

Parallel to and under the mandrel 78 are a pair of guides 86 to providesupport for and permit horizontal movement of the forming-rollerplatform 88 with respect to the axis of mandrel 78. Thesehorizontalguides 86 are secured to the support table 12 by any conventional methodand the details ofthisneed not be described.

Teeth 90 (Figure 1) on the underside of the guides 86 mesh-withapinion92 operated by a-crank 94in platform support 96 to provide easeofhorizontal movement of the platform 88. A thumb screw 98 holds theplatform- 96 fimly at the desired position. 7

Vertical movement of the platform 88 is accomplished and controlledby apair of vertical rack members 100 (Figure 7) secured to the underside'ofplatform 88 and slidably secured in the platform support 96.where theyare engaged'by a pair of pinions 102 rotated by crank handle 104 so thatthe elevation of platform-88' is easily adjusted through manipulation ofcrank handle'104; A thumb screw 106 in platform support 96 securelyholds theplatform 88-at desired elevation.

The bellows are formed in the end portion of the tube extending frommandrel 78 (see Figure l)- by an outside corrugated forming roller 108and an inside corrugated forming r'oller 110 so connected to-theplatform 88 that they may be quickly brought into and out of contactwith the tube and quickly removed from the working area so the tube maybe easily'placed on and removed from the mandrel 80.

Referring now to Figure 7, the outside forming roller 108 is held freelyrotatable within a yoke 111 on the rocking arm 112 pivotally-supportedabove the platform 88 by double post 114'. Any conventional pivotalconnection 116-may be used to permit a perpendicular'move ment'oftherocking arm'112 with respect to theaxis of the mandrel 78 such as apair of set screws 118 in the double post 114 projecting intodepressions in the bar 112.

On the rocking arm 112 on the opposite side of the pivotal connection116 from the outside forming roller 108'is a counterbalance 120 tendingto depress that end of the rocking arm 112 and raise the forming roller108.

'To quickly bring the forming roller 108 into andout of engagement withthe tube an arcuate guide surface 122 is provided on the under surfaceof rocking arm 112 on the opposite side of pivot-116 from the formingroller 108 in which arcuate guide surface 122 a latch bar 124 rides.Near the upper end of this arcuate guide surface 122 and formed in thelower side of the rocking arm 112 is provided a catch means such as thenotch 126 into which the latch bar 124 fits when the rocking arm 112 isin the desired position for contact of the outside roller 10.8With thefree. end'of the tube'on the mandrel 78. Thelatch bar 124 is pivotedvertically into-andout of; the notch 126 by means of the connectionofthesl'atch ba; 124 to a handle 128' piyotallymounted in the post 11 A's: thus constructed, when the bellowed portion has been formed in thefree end of the tube an upward flip of the' handle .128 by the ioperatorremoves" the latch bar 124 from the notch 126 permitting thecounter-balance 120 to raise the outside forming roller 108. To quicklymove the forming roller 108 back into the position shown in Figures 1and 7 the operator merely depresses the handle 128 bringing the free endof the latch bar 124 in contact with the arcuate guide 122 raising thecounter-balance 120 until the latch bar 124 and the notch 126 are againengaged and the rocking arm 112 releasably locked in position.

The inside forming roller 110 is likewise rotatably secured to a rockingarm 130 for movement perpendicular to the axis of mandrel 78. As it isnecessary that the peaks and valleys of the forming rollers 108 and 110properly complement each other one of the forming rollers 108 and 110 ismovable along its axis with respect to the other and in this instancethis adjustment is performed by the connection of the inside formingroller 110 to its rocking arm 130. A shaft 132 axially through theinside forming roller 110 is clamped across the rocking arm 130 betweena pair of plates 134; the lower of which is secured to the rocking arm130 such'as by welding. These plates 134 are held together by bolts 136so that upon loosening of the bolts 136 the shaft 132 can be moved tomake the desired adjustment and the inside forming roller 110 thenrelocked in position by tightening of the bolts 136. Of course othermeans of making this adjustable connection between the inside formingroller 110 and its rocking arm 130 may be used.

Not only is the inside forming roller 110 brought into contact with theinner wall of the tube opposite the outside forming roller 108 but thisinside forming roller 110 must also be moved out of the way of tubebeing placed on and removed from the mandrel 78. This operation isquickly accomplished by the structure best illustrated in Figure 7. Asshown in that figure, a bushing 138 is secured to the platform 88parallel to the axis of mandrel 78 and through this bushing 138 extendsan axle 140 of sufiicient length that it may move axially within thebushing 138 a distance at least equal to the axial length of the insideforming roller 110 for a purpose which will be made clear later. A stophead 142 is provided on one end of this axle 140 to prevent itswithdrawal from the bushing 138 and on the other end of this axle 140 issecured the support arm 144 which is in turn pivotally secured to therocking arm 130 by the pivot 146 between the inside forming roller 110and the handle 148 on rocking arm 130. As thus constructed, the insideforming roller 110 is movable into and out of engagement with the innerwall of the tube by means of the handle 148 and is movablelongitudinally with respect to the axis of the tube and mandrel 78 byforcing sideways on the handle 148 because of the excess length of theaxle 140 over its bushing 138.

To further aid in the removal of the inside forming roller 110 from thearea of the mandrel 78 when the tube is placed on or removed from themandrel 78 and to hold the support arm 144 steady when engaging theinside forming roller 110, the support arm 144 has a support meansincluding a curved dog 150 secured to the support arm 144 and supportingit in an upright position by resting on a lug 152 projection from theplatform 88 when the inside forming roller 110 is inside of the freeportion of the tube on mandrel 78. When the rocking arm 130 is moved tothe right by handle 148 the dog 150 is freed from its lug 152 allowingthe support arm 144 to pivot forward and downwardly carrying with it andout of the way of the mandrel 78 and the tube all of the rocking arm 130and the parts attached to it so that the bellowed tube may be removedfrom the mandrel 78 and a new one placed thereon. In the particular formhere illustrated the do; 150 is curved to allow it to pass around aguide 86 when the dog 150 moves downwardly. r

In forming the bellowed portion in the free end of the tube the platform88 is adjusted horizontallyto' bring the forming rollers 108 and intoproper position v along the axis of the mandrel 78 to be ableto form thebellows at the free end of the tube. Upon reaching such position theplatform support 96 is locked in position by the clamp 98 as no furtherlongitudinal movement of the platform 88 is necessary for uniformlengths of tube. Next the handle 128 is moved downwardly into theposition shown in Figure 7 and by means of crank handle 104 the platform88 is adjusted vertically so that the peaks on the outside formingroller 108 lightly contact the exterior of'the free portion of the tubeextending from the mandrel 78. The platform 88 is then secured in thisvertical position by the thumb screw 106 as no further verticaladjustment is necessary for tubes of the same diameter. The insideroller 110 is then moved into position inside the free end of the tubeby handle 148 and movement downward on handle 148 forces the insideforming roller 110 against the inner wall of the tube complementary tothe outside roller 108 whereby the rotation of the mandrel 78 causingrotation of the tube results in the formation of the bellowed portion inthe tube. Upon formation of the bellowed portion, the handle 128 isflipped upwardly releasing the latch 124 from the notch 126 causing theoutside forming roller 108 to move upwardly and free from the tubing.The handle 148 is then lifted slightly freeing the inside forming roller110 from the tube and is then knocked to the right clearing the dog 150from lug 152 thereby causing the inside roller 110 and its rocking arm130 to fall downwardly and free of the end of mandrel 78.

The bellowed tube is then slid from the end of th still rotating mandrel78 and a new unbellowed tube placed on mandrel 78. As the longitudinaland elevational adjustment of platform 88 for this particular size oftube has already been made the operator merely pulls down on handle 128which causes the outside forming roller 108 to contact the tube. Nextthe operator pulls upwardly and backwardly on handle 148 until dog 150is above lug 152 and then forces to the left on handle 148 moving theforming roller 110 into the end of the tube whereupon downward movementon handle 148 causes pivoting of rocking arm 130 bringing the insideforming roller 110 into contact with the tubing and another bellowedportion is formed.

With this apparatus and mode of operation one operator can consistentlyform bellowed portions in the tube at the rate of ten per minute. t

The outside roller 108 ispermitted to contact the exterior of the tubingas distinguished from depressing'it so that when the inside roller 110is forced against the inner wall of the tubing the peaks of the bellowsare formed on the exterior of the tube as increased diameter portionsand the valleys of the bellows are the original outside diameter of thetube thus preventing any reduced diameter in the tubing at the bellowedportion which would result if the outside forming roller 108 was movedinwardly against the inside forming roller 110.

It is also noted that there is a drag fit. between the mandrel 78 andthe tube so that while rotation of the mandrel 78 imparts rotation tothe tube still the tube can contract longitudinally along the mandrel 78from the face plate 70 and also along its free end during the formationof the bellowed portion without any stretching and resulting thinning ofthe tube in the bellowed portion.

As best shown in Figure l, the inside roller 110 has an end plate orlarger diameter peak 154 which cooperates with the free end of the tubeon mandrel 78 to form an outwardly turned lip which is larger indiameter than the other external peaks on the bellowed portion of thetube and this peak is the portion of the tube which is secured .to theplate of the flexible flashing as will be explained later.

' Plates from the plate cutting assembly 14 and bellowed tubes from thebellows forming assembly 16 are joined and. sealed together. inthefor'rn shown inFigure. 2 by the tube-and plate joining assembly18,located'in'supporttable' 12. Referring new to Figii'res 3 and 5. it canbe seen-that" the tube aiidpl'ate joining assembly 18'incl'udes aturntable 156 having a mandrel 158 perpendicularly secured to the' axisof rotation of the table with. both being rotated at slovt speed by anelectric motor 157 connected to a shaft 1'59throu'gh a drive assembly161. This'turritable 156 and mandrel1158 are normally kept. rotatingduring the entire. operation at joining the tube-to the plate. The holedplates arefls'lipped downwardly over the mandrel 1.58 so" that theyresthat on. the turntable 156 and then a tube is placed: on. the. mandrelwith the bellowed portion down into the. position shown in Figure 5.Thereafter, while thetube and'p'late are rotatedas a unit'by themandreli158 and'l turntable, 156. a11. operator. soldersthe lip formedon theend' of the tube to the plate by the use of. solder. and. aheatsource. such as an oxygentorch. Ofcourse other means of. soldering orjoihihgthe tube to the plate could be used. Afoot switch 153coiitrollingr'not'o'r' 157 is usedto stop-the turntable 156'during thesoldering operation whenever the operator desires such. as when it appears that a perfect seal has not been made at a certain point.

Preferably theturntable.1'56"ha's a woodenfsur'fa'ce and the mandrel15S-is likewise made of wood to prevent too rapid dissipation of. heat.at. the sealing line. duri'ngithe soldering. operation. A. supplyo'fimandre'ls. 158' of" different.internaldiameter are kept onIhan'd toaccommodate the different inside'diametersofthe. tubes. sealed to theplates. After each tube is sealed to its plate the completed. flashingis then lifted from tube. and plate joining assemblyv 18 while theturntable156. isstill rotating and another plate. and tubethen slippedover. this mandrel. 158 and likewisejoined. I

Also. located on. the support table 12 is thee-lamp 22 which receivesthe fiexibleflashing in'the form illustrated in Figure 2 and .bends theedges ofthe plates. at right angles to the position shownrirrFigure4.for ease of packaging. This clamp 22 is best illustrated in Figures1:, 3 and 6 and includes an upright centerblocklfil) containingtherein avertical passageldlof sufficient.internaldiameter and length to receivethe tubing, portion. of. the. flexible flash.- ing. The top surface1640f block lbtliis rectangular in shape with its longerdimensionbeinggreater. than the lengthof any side of the. plate and withits width being slightly greater than. thesize of. the. passage. 162 sothat opposite sides of the plate of the flexible flashing extend over.thewidth of this; block..160 whenthe tube of the flexible flashing isinserted in the passage 162'.

Pivotally secured at one end of the block 160' is a channel shaped.clampedlid'166 having parallel depending sides 168 so that when. thisclamp lid 166 is swung closed by its handle 170' these depending sidesids-pass closely to the sides of block 160 and bend the sideslof theplate of. the flexible flashing downwardly. The clamp lid 166 is thenraised and the flexible flashing in .the form shown in Figure 4 isremoved from the clamp 22 and another flashing inserted therein forforming for packaging.

his thought that the methodv of inventionis apparent from thedescriptionof the apparatus. The method, however, comprisessliding aportionof the length .of. the tube on the rotating mandrel 78 While themandrel continues to rotate so. thatthe tube. is both supported androtated by the mandrel anda free end of the tube projects beyond themandrel 78. A bellowed portion is formed in the free end' of. the tubeprojecting from the mandrel by freely rotatable. forming rollers.withthe. outside. roller. 108. being first brought.into contact withtheexterior of. the tubing and .With the. pressure being appliedito thevinside crime tubing by the inside forming roller 110; The formingrollers" are then quickly removedfror'n the tube and area adjacent themandrel 78. andthe bellowedtube removedirremz the I still rotating 1mandre'ms. Thereafter a holed plate is placed onthe slowly rotatingtable 156 and a bellowed tube with the bellowed portion down'is slidover'the mandrel .158 and both the plate and tubing rotated as-a unitwhile being sealingly joined, preferably by solder and an acetylenetorch. I

The present invention, therefore,- is well suited to carry outtheobjects and attain the advantages mentioned as well asjothersinherent herein.

Whileonly a single example of the apparatus has been given for thepurpose of illustration,- changes in many details and rearrangementofparts will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art such as meansof mounting the various mandrels; the'loca'tion of power supplies andother matters. Accordingly, it is desired to be limited only by thespirit of the" invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An' apparatus for forming a bellowed portion on a tube of malleablematerial, said apparatus comprising a rotatable mandrel of sufiicientlength and diameter to receive a portion of and rotate the tube andleave a free end'of" the tube'extending from an end of themandrel, aplatform proximate the mandrel, means to move the platform perpendicularwith respect to the axis of the mandrel, a first rotatable formingroller, a rocking support for said first roller connected to theplatform so constructedand-arranged'to move the first roller into andout of contact with the outer surface of the free end of the tube,releasable means for locking the first roller in position against thetube, a' second rotatable forming roller; a rocking support for saidsecond roller connected to'the platform so' constructed and arrangedto'rnove the roller into and out of contact with" the inner surface ofthe free endot the tube opposite the first roller and away fromthemandrel to permit insertion on and removal of the tube from themandrel;

2. The-apparatus'of claim 1 in which the-rocking-support for the secondroller includes a support arm pivotally-and slidably connected to theplatform for pivotal movement at right angles to the axis of the mandreland sliding movement parallel to the axis of the mandrel, a rocking armpivotally secured to the support arm for pivotal movement at rightangles to the axis of the mandrel and supporting the second rollerthereon spaced from the support arm, and support means cooperatingwith'the support arm preventing its rotation when the second roller isopposite the first roller, whereby the support arm and rocking arm maybemoved parallel to the axis of them'an'drel to insert and removethesecond rollerfrom the freeend of the tube and the rocking'arm may'be'pivoted to a positionaway from the mandrel to permit insertion on andremoval of the tube from the mandrel;

3. The .apparatus' of claim 2' in which the support means cooperatingwith" the support arm preventing its rotation when the secondroller' isopposite the first roller permits rotation of the support arm when thesecond roller-is in positions other than opposite the first rollerwhereby both the'support arm and rocking arm'may'be pivoted to aposition away from the mandrelto permit insertion'andremoval of the tubefrom the mandrel.

.4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rockingsupportif'or the firstroller includes a post mountedon the platform; a rocking arm pivotally;secured to the post for rocking movement perpendicular to the axis ofthe mandrel and" supporting the first roller thereon spaced from'thepost,- means on the rocking arm tending to movethe roller away fromthemandrel, and-latch means cooperating withtherock'ing'arm releasablylocking the arm" in position adjacentthe'tube:

5; The apparatus of claim l in'which the second roller has-an increased"diameter portiorrwhich cooperates with the freeend ofthe tubewhe'n' in'contact with the tube and with the. first roller to forman outwardlyturned lip o'n-thetube.

6. An apparatus for forming a bellowed portion on a tube of malleablematerial, said apparatus comprising a rotatable mandrel of sutficientlength and diameter to form a drag fit with and receive a portion of androtate the tube and leave a free end of the tube extending from an endof the mandrel, a platform proximate the mandrel, means to move theplatform parallel to and perpendicular with respect to the axis of themandrel, a first corrugated rotatable forming roller, a rocking supportfor said first roller including a post mounted on the platform, arocking arm pivotally secured to the post for rocking movementperpendicular to the axis of the mandrel and supporting the first rollerthereon spaced from the post, means on the rocking arm tending to movethe roller away from the mandrel, and latch means cooperating with therocking arm releasably locking the arm in position adjacent the tube, asecond corrugated rotatable forming roller, a rocking support for saidsecond roller connected to the platform including a support armpivotally and slidably connected to the platform for pivotal movementperpendicular to the axis of the mandrel and sliding movement parallelto the axis of the mandrel, a rocking arm pivotally secured to thesupport arm for pivotal movement at right angles to the axis of themandrel and supporting the second roller thereon spaced from its supportarm, and support means cooperating with the support arm preventing itsrotation when the second roller is opposite the first roller whereby thesupport arm and rocking arm may be moved parallel to the axis of themandrel to insert and remove the second roller from the free end of thetube and the rocking arm may be pivoted to a position away from themandrel to permit insertion on and removal of the tube from the mandrel.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the support means cooperating withthe support arm preventing its rotation when the second roller isopposite the first roller permits rotation of the support arm when thesecond roller is in positions other than opposite the first rollerwhereby both the support arm and rocking arm may be pivoted to aposition away from the mandrel to permit insertion and removal of thetube from the mandrel.

8. In an apparatus for forming a bellowed portion on .a tube ofmalleable material while said tube is rotating on a mandrel sized for adrag fit with the tube, said apthe post, means on the rocking armtending to move the roller away from the mandrel, and latch meanscooperating with the rocking arm releasably locking the arm in positionadjacent the tube, a second forming roller, a rocking support for saidsecond roller connected to the platform, said rocking support includinga support arm pivotally and slidably connected to the platform forpivotal movement at right angles to the axis of the tube and slidingmovement parallel to the axis of the tube, a rocking arm pivotallysecured to the support'arm for pivotal movement at right angles to theaxis of the tube and supporting the second roller thereon spaced fromits support arm, and support means cooperating with the support armpreventing its rotation when the second roller is opposite the firstroller whereby the support arm and rocking arm may be moved parallel tothe axis of the tube toinsert and remove the second roller from the endof the tube and the rocking arm may be pivoted to a position away fromthe mandrel to permit insertion on and removal of the tube from themandrel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the support means cooperating withthe support arm preventing its rotation when the second roller isopposite the first roller permits rotation of the support arm when thesecond roller is in other positions than opposite the first rollerwhereby both the support arm and the rocking arm may be pivoted to aposition away from the mandrel to permit insertion and removal of thetube from the mandrel.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein the tube is maintainedlongitudinally on the mandrel with a drag fit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS150,241 Howell Apr. 28, 1874 362,471 Verdel May 3, 1887 971,838 FultonOct. 4, 1910 1,870,904 Giesler Aug. 9, 1932 2,239,696 Bohm Apr. 29, 19412,324,026 Riemenschneider July 13, 1943 2,406,442 Smith Aug. 27, 19462,427,026 Smith Sept. 9, 1947 2,445,303 Fisher July 13, 1948 2,505,236Dooley Apr. 25, 1950 2,506,657 Webster May 9, 1950 2,739,376 Peet Mar.27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,905 Great Britain Sept. 11, 1897 903,151France Jan. 8, 1945

